Who painted Study of a woman standing beside a horse?

Study of a woman standing beside a horse was painted by Daniel Maclise in 1825.

Where can I see Study of a woman standing beside a horse?

Study of a woman standing beside a horse is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Study of a woman standing beside a horse?

Study of a woman standing beside a horse is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Study of a woman standing beside a horse

Daniel Maclise , 1825

Study of a woman standing beside a horse is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Daniel Maclise. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Daniel Maclise’s pencil drawing presents a woman in a hat and veil, her left arm resting on a horse’s flank, while a male servant in a top hat lingers behind the animal. Executed in a rapid, gestural manner, the work captures a fleeting moment rather than a finished composition, emphasizing overall shape and movement over fine detail.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes a genteel female figure with an equine companion, suggesting a leisurely or ceremonial scene. The presence of the servant, positioned in the background, reinforces the social hierarchy of the period, hinting at the woman’s status and the attendant’s role within a domestic or aristocratic setting.

Technique & Style

Rendered entirely in pencil, the drawing relies on loose, sweeping strokes that outline the figures and horse with minimal refinement. The woman's facial features are rendered simply yet recognizably, while the horse is suggested through quick, expressive lines, reflecting a preparatory sketch typical of Maclise’s early study process.

History & Provenance

The piece was displayed in Mount 15, one of thirty frames comprising 390 drawings and sketches in various media, alongside works by Calderon, T.S. Cooper, and Landseer. The broader exhibition also included portrait studies of notable figures such as Edward Bulwer‑Lytton and Benjamin Disraeli, situating Maclise’s drawing within a larger survey of contemporary art and portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Daniel Maclise

Daniel Maclise (25 January 1806 – 25 April 1870) was an Irish history painter, literary and portrait painter, and illustrator, who worked for most of his life in London, England.